Helicopter toy rocket and bomb



June 15,1948. L. w. BROWN HELICOPTER TOY ROCKET AND BOMB Filed Jan. 13, 1947 I Ihwentor Lawrence W firm m Gttornegs Patented June 15, 1948 UNETED STATES PATENT ginger HELICOPTER TOY ROCKET AND noivm Lawrence W. Brown, Clinton, Mo.

Application January 13, 1947, Serial No. 721,677

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a helicopter toy and more particularly to a helicopter toy rocket and bomb having rocket propulsion for rotating and efiecting lifting of said toy into the air and effecting explosive destruction of the toy at the top of its flight providing amusement with little danger of burns or fire.

This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial No. 648,235, filed February 18, 1946, on Rocket helicopter toy.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a toy having combined rocket propulsion and helicopter action to impart flight thereto; to provide a flying toy rocket with a selfdestruction explosive charge for ignition at the terminus of its upward travel; to provide a rocket toy with a jet aperture that will retain its size throughout the burning of the propulsion charge; to provide a jet aperture in a rocket toy where the escaping burning gases will not ignite any portion of the toy; to provide a rocket toy of substantially non-inflammable material except for the charge therein; to provide novel mounting of the wings on the toy and anchoring means therefor; to provide a rocket toy with separated propellant and explosive charges arranged whereby the explosive charge is ignited at the end of the burning of the propellant charge for exploding said toy substantially at the peak of its flight; and to provide an amusing, economical and highly efiicient helicopter rocket and bomb that is relatively safe to operate.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is aperspective view of a rocket helicopter toy embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the toy, portions being broken away to illustrate the arrangement of the fuse and jet orifice.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the body of the toy on the line 33, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the body of the toy on the line i i of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the helicopter Wing and the fastening means therefor.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the body of the toy, the parts thereof being shown in disassembled spaced relation.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

I generally designates a rocket helicopter toy constructed in accordance with the preferred 2 form of the invention. The toy preferably consists of a body 2 including a tube 3 made substantially non-inflammable by forming same of tightly rolled paper. The rear end 4 of the tube 3 is closed by a plug 5 preferably formed of ceramic material. The plug has a tight fit into the bore 6 of the tube and if desired may be cemented or otherwise secured in place with the flat rear face 1 of the plug flush with the rear end of the tube 3. The forward end of the plug 5 is provided with a conical socket 8 adapted to receive a conical projection 9 on a propulsion charge it, said charge preferably consisting of black powder pressed into a cylindrical shape to fit into the bore 6 of the tube 3.

Approximately midway the depth of the socket 3 the plug 5 is provided with an aperture H preferably extending radially through the wall of the plug and below the horizontal center at approximately a thirty degree angle thereto. The aperture I l aligns with a recess l2 in the conical projection 9 of the propulsion charge 10 and an aperture l3 in the tube 3. The apertures ii and i3 and the recess l2 are of such size to receive a standard size fuse Id of suitable length, the inner end of said fuse resting in the recess i2 in contact with the charge l0 so any burning of the fuse will ignite said charge. The fuse it is preferably held in the apertures by an adhesive tape l5 such as Cellophane tape, said tape being wrapped around the fuse adjacent the tube 3 and the ends it of the tape are drawn upwardly over the top of the tube where said ends are secured to the tube in lapping condition.

While I have described the fuse M and jet apertures as being located at an angle of approximately thirty degrees with the horizontal, it is obvious other angularities would provide the same jet propulsion with some difference in the lift provided by said jet.

In order to provide a helicopter action to the rocket toy, a horizontal wing I1 is located near the front of the body 2 and secured above the center thereof by suitable fastening means. The wing may be any suitable material, but preferably consists of a metal strip I8 mounted edgewise in a vertical transverse slot 19 in the tube 3, the ends of said strip extending laterally of said tube. The ends are twisted in opposite directions at a point 29 adjacent the tube to provide reversely warped blades 2! and 22 which will tend to lift the toy from the ground when said toy is rotated end for end. The upper edge 23 of the blade 2!, located on the same side of the tube as the jet aperture, is twisted toward the rear of the device and the rigidly clampithe' wingi'in the transversexslot. I95

in the tube SL The forward end of the propulsion charge In is preferably spaced from the forward end of the tube 3 as at 29, said spacing being;sufficient:-toi

receive and hold a tubular member 30. formed of tightly rolled paper, said tubular memberhaving an outside diameter substantially theisame as-c" the bore 6 of the tube 3. The tubular member 30 is preferably cemented or otherwise' securely anchored in the bore 6. The tubular member 30 is? provided: with a. bore 3 l adapteditorreceivex an explosive charge 32 preferably. of': granulated:

powder pressed into cylindrical shape. to :fit the' bore 3'1 The: explosive charge" 32? is preferablysh'orter than the length of the tubul'ar member 30- whereby the ends of: said charge are spaced" from the ends. of the tubular member" so as -at 33 and 34; Suitable packing or wa'dding and 3.6: of fiberboard or the like istightly pressed into the-bore31 into contact' with' the explosive charge 32 to confine same andto-sealeach endof the tubular member 301 The wadding'si is-preferably provided with an aperture-31 whereby a namefrom the=burningpropellant" charge I t will" pass through the aperture 31 to ignite the explosive charge 321 In this 'manner'the explosion charge is'ignited when thepropulsion charge has sub-- stantially completed its burning or atthe peak of' the flight of the toy; thereby providing aloud noise'to-add to the amusement provided by the device:

In some instances it may be-possible toi'nsert a firecracker 'such'as is commonlytermed' a salute into the end of the tubular member 33 to provide the explosive chargef'or the device. In such' instances itis desirable to remove the fi1se=from the salute; however, it is" believedobvious-that"a fuse" may'be'used' to providea delay in the-ignition of the explosive charge if' desired.

The operation of thero'cket'helicopter toy and bomb constructed as described is as follows:

The toy is placed'on thegroundor other suitable surface and'the fuse Mignit'ed. Burning of the fuse-will direct a name into the recess" I2" of the conical'projection 9 offth'e' propellant charge IE! to ignite same,. creating gases which will escape through the apertures. H" and .13 in the plug. 5'. and. tube 3' respectively. The projection 9 of the charge H) is small, thereby'preventi'ng too. rapid initial burning and formation of sufficient gas to. explode the-toy. The force. of the escaping gases through the., iet' apertures I! will cause the toy. to rotate and be lifted by the wing IT, The. location. of? the jet aperture below' the center of the body of the toy also provides lift thereto. The-projecting tubular member and charge therein tendto balance the toy around the. wing IT aidi'ngin maintaining the toy in ro'- tating. condition.

The propellant charge being formed" of black powder pressed into. a. cylindrical shape burns gradually from the-pointofignition' to the forward end of the tube 3.. When the burning. has extended. to. the. forward end of said. charge, a flame therefrom will pass through the aperture 31 to ignite the explosive charge 32. This takes place at substantially the end of the application of lifting force by the propellant charge or substantially at the peak of the flight of the toy. The explosion of the explosive charge 32 provides a loud noise to add to the amusement provided by the device and also the force of the explosion will blow out any flame if any portion of the toy should become ignited, however, there is substarrtially no danger of fire in the.- use of this toy as the tightly wound paper tubes '3 and 30 and other materials used in construction of the toy are substantially non-inflammable.

The. LISB'FOf this :toy combines the interest of a helicopter, a rocket and the noise and self-destruction'oft'he toy when the toy has lifted itself a-. considerable distance in the air whereby there is no danger of any person being burned or injuredby flying particles from said toy to combine the maximum of amusement with the maximum safety; in'.such device. The: plugl being of: suitable ceramic material, prevents enlarge ment. of. the. aperture I! through the burning,

andmaintains an even propulsion. of theutoy.

throughout its flight.

It is believed obvious that the. present invenvtion combines rocket propulsion, helicopter action. andiexplosive noisein'asafe amusement toy;

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters. Patent is:

1: A toy of the character described, av body member having a longitudinalv bore. therein; a transverse sl'ot extending through'the-wall of the body member; awing mounted on the body meme ber in said slot including laterally extending blades revers'ely warped for liftin the top when said toy' is rotated end for end, a wire having ends'secured-t'o-the wing adjacent the-blades and extending around the body member for securing the Wing'thereto, means closing oneend of the bore in the body member andha ing a laterally arranged jetaperture, a propulsion charge in the bore, means for igniting the propulsion charge adjacent the bore closing means whereby gases formed by burning thecharge aredischarged through the jet apeiture to efiect end for end rotation of the toy, a tubular extension mounted'iirthe' other end of 'the bore of the bod member and-projecting therefrom, means closing the projecting end of said tubular extension, an ex plosive charge in the bore of said tubul'arextension, and means separating theexplosive charge from thepropulsion charge and having an aperture therein for conducting flame from the propulsioncharge at the termination of the burningthereof to the explosive charge for igniting same.

2-. A- toy of the character described, a body member of tightly rolled paper having a longitudinal bore therein and an aperture extending through the wall of said body member adjacent toone end thereof, a transverse slot adjacent the other end of said body member, a horizontal wing mounted in said slot and having laterally extending blades adapted to lift the toy when said toy is rotated; said blades being twisted whereby opposed edges are bent upwardly at an angle to a plane defined by the axis of the blades and a line parallel to the body member, a U-shaped clamp extendin 'around the body member and having the ends thereof engaging the wings to secure same. to the body member, a plug in the. bore adjacent the aperture in the body member having a recess communicating with said bore, said plug having a radially arranged aperture aligned with the aperture in the body member providing communication from outside the body to the recess in said plug, a propellant charge in the bore of the bod member and having a projection extending into the recess of the plug, a fuse extending through the aligned apertures and having contact with the projection of the propellant charge to ignite same, burning of said propellant charge forming gases for discharge through the aligned apertures to effect rotation of the toy, means for securing the fuse to the body member, a tubular extension of tightly rolled paper having one end secured in the longitudinal bore at the end of the body member adjacent the wings, an explosive charge in the bore of said tubular extension, means sealing the outer end of the tubular extension, and means separating the explosive and propellant charges and having an aperture therein for conducting flame from the propellant charge at the termination of the burning thereof to the explosive charge for igniting same for exploding and destroying the toy adjacent the peak of its flight.

3. A toy of the character described, a tubular body member having a transverse slot therein and open at one end thereof, a wing mounted on the body member in said slot and having laterally extending blades reversely warped for lifting the toy when said toy is rotated end for end. a U-shaped clamp extending around the body member and having portions bent over said wing to hold same in the slot of the body member, means closing the open end of the body member and secured thereto, said closing means having a laterally directed jet aperture communicating with the interior of said body member, and a propulsion charge in said body member ignitable to create a gas to produce a discharge through the jet aperture whereby the force of the gas discharge rotates the toy end for end to cause the same to lift into the air.

4. A toy of the character described, a tubular body member having a transverse slot therein and open at one end thereof, a wing mounted on the body member in said slot including laterally extending blades twisted whereby opposed edges are bent at an angle to a plane defined by the axis of the blades and a line parallel to the body member vfor lifting the toy when said toy is rotated end for end, means closing the open end of the body member and secured thereo, said closing means having a laterally and downwardly directed jet aperture communicating with the interior of said body member, an explosion charge secured to the other end of said body member, a propulsion charge in said body member ignitable to create a gas for discharge through the jet aperture, the force of the gaseous discharge rotating the toy end for end to cause same to lift into the air, and means for conducting flame from the propulsion charge at substantially the termination of the burning thereof to the explosive charge to ignite same.

LAWRENCE W. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS (Addition to No. 570,826) 

